Mail-box signal.



W. E. HARMON.

MAIL BOX SIGNAL. APPLICATION nun 00w. 13,1909.

Patented Aug 23,1910.

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. HARMON, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-I-IALFTO J. B.BROOK- MAN, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

MAIL-BOX SIGNAL.

Application filed October 13, 1909. Serial No. 522,376.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM E. HARMoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Box Signals, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My device relates to new and useful improvements in mail box signals andmore particularly to that class of signals now used on rural freedelivery routes.

The object of the device is to, provide a signal in connection with thelocking means whereby the said signal can not be changed until the mailman or the owner unlocks the box, thereby protecting the mail againstillegitimate molestation.

Another object is to provide a signal which may be easily attached tothe mail boxes now in use.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention has particularrelation to certain novel features of construction and arrangement ofparts, an example of which is given in this specification andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is aperspective view of a mail box showing one form of signal set inposition and dotted lines showing the same out of position. Fig. 2 is aperspective view of a mail box showing my preferred form of signal setin position and dotted lines showing the same out of position. Fig. 3 isa perspective view of one of the present forms of signal set in positionwith my locking means attached and dotted lines showing the same whenout of position. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred form ofsignal.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals ofreference designate similar parts in each of the figures; the numeral 1refers to themain body of the box which is usually made of galvanizediron, the bottom being so made as to be easily fastened to the top of apost or other means of support, the top rounded longitudinally toprotect against all kinds of weather.

Numeral 2 refers to the door which is in one end of the box and hingedto the bottom thereof.

The numeral 3 refers to the hasp which is rigidly attached to the upperportion of the door, while the numeral 4: refers to the hasp which isrigidly attached to the front and top of the body 1 of the box, in amanner corresponding to the position of hasp 3 when the door is closed.

The numeral 5 refers to my preferred form of signal shown in detail inFig. 4 and attached to the box in Fig. 2.

Numeral 6 refers to another form of signal and is shown in position inconnection with the lock in Fig. l, and out of position in dotted lines.

Numeral 7 refers to still another form of signal which is attached tothe side of the box and is shown in position in Fig. 3 and out ofposition in dotted lines in the same figure.

Numeral 8 refers to the lock which is of the ordinary padlock type, butmay be of any approved type.

The preferred form of signal as shown in Fig. 4c, is made of galvanizediron or other suitable material. The upper part being of any convenientshape or size, is preferably at right angles to the lower part. In thefront and central part of the base, a hole is provided to permit theshackle of the padlock to pass therethrough. At the bend of the signal aclasp 9 is fastened around the main body and may be either solderedthereto or passed through a loop in the body as shown in Fig. 4. WVhenattached to a mail box, the clasp 9 is slipped over hasp 4: and thesignal is then ready for use, when in use, the upper part of the signalis raised to a vertical position and the padlock shacklepassed throughthe hole in the base and in the hasps on the door and body of the box.

The form shown at 6 in Fig. 1 is attached to the door of the box by astaple or other suitable means which makes a hinged joint at one end ofthe signal. At about the center a hole is provided, large enough to passover the hasps and permit a padlock to clasp through the holes in thehasps and thus hold the signal erect.

Still another form is shown in position in Fig. 3. A suitable support isattached to the side of the box and to this, a shaft is connected. Atthe lower end of said shaft a longitudinal slot 10 is provided whichembraces a pin 11 and when the shaft is in an upright position slidesdown over said pin and the signal is thereby held in an uprightposition. At the top of the support a flag is attached and to this flaga wire or other suit-able rod is connected which carries a loop at itsother end so that when placed in position for locking, the shackle ofthe lock may be passed through the loop as Well as the hasps and therebysecurely lock the said signal in position.

While 1 have shown these three forms I desire not to be limited to thesealone but Wish to vary When necessary, so long as the principle isadhered to.

\V hat I claim is:

In a device of the character described a signal device comprising adisplay member and a securing member at substantially right anglesthereto, a loop Within the angle of 15 the signal device and a claspsurrounding said device and passing through said loop, said clasp beingdesigned to engage With a hasp carried by the body to which the signaldevice is to be attached.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

XVILLIAM E. HARMON.

Vitnesses CHAS. R. MUNGER, E. C. GUY.

